Russia calls on Israel, Gaza to stop violence

Moscow, Apr 10 (UNI) Russia today called on Israelis and Palestinians to stop violence after at least nine Palestinians and two Israelis were killed in the border area between Gaza and Israel.

''We are calling on Palestinians to stop terrorist acts, including rocket launches on Israeli territory, and on Israel to exercise restraint and refrain from using force, particularly large-scale raids, leading to civilian victims and jeopardising the political settlement,'' the official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Kamynin said in a statement.

Mr Kamynin said the recent fighting had raised Moscow's concern over an escalation in violence on the border between Israel and Gaza, which has been politically isolated since the radical Hamas group seized power of the Palestinian enclave last summer.

''We affirm our categorical condemnation of any terrorist attacks and raids,'' he said adding ''Indisputably, it is Israel's right and any other states' to protect the lives, security and welfare of their nationals.'' ''But at the same time, we consider it unacceptable that repressive measures should cause death and suffering among innocent people,'' Mr Kamynin noted.

He also warned that moving towards isolation and violence could back Gaza into a very tight corner.